Disclaimer: I don't own any of the actual characters or any music by Kanye West…the only thing I have any claim to are my original characters of Lee and Matt.

A/N: I really should be reading Faust but this is so much more fun. First of all I use the song Gold Digger in this, and I am fully aware that my fic takes place before it technically came out, but it inspired part of this chapter so I had to include it. As always, thanks to my wonderful reviewers:

Chapter 9 – Get Down Girl

"That was weird," Lee said to Ryan and Seth when they reached the pool house. They had returned from cotillion practice to find Sandy in the kitchen waiting for Kirsten.

"What?" Seth flopped onto the bed, landing on his back.

"Your parents," She sat down as well, "It felt off."

"I guess," he shrugged, staring up at the ceiling.

"Don't you want to know why?" she looked from Seth to Ryan, who now sat on the floor with his back against the bed. Ryan gave her a look that said it was not like Chino here, but Lee's gut told her to be on edge whenever parental figures were fighting. That instinct was all about protection and Ryan understood that.

"It's probably nothing or at least nothing between them," Seth sat up to continue his explanation, unaware of the look exchanged between siblings, "My dad looked serious, but he offered her a glass of wine, so he's not mad at her. He probably got some news that will upset her."

"And that doesn't even concern you?" Lee was still skeptical.

"If it was something serious, I would be in the there too," he adjusted the pillows so he could lean back, "My guess is that it has to do with the money she loaned Mr. Cooper."

"As in Marissa's dad?" she asked, Seth had given her a rundown of the families of Newport, but she still go them confused at time.

"Yeah, I think his money problems are worse than he let on."

"What makes you think that?" Ryan asked, interested because of the effects on Marissa. Also, the incident at the fashion show when he overheard Jimmy's breakdown had already made him suspicious.

"Just a hunch," he shrugged, "After living here as long as I have, you learn how to smell a scandal," he switched to the voice of an old man, "One day, you too will learn the craft."

"You're hilarious," Lee groaned, shaking her head, "So this party tonight is it cool?"

"Not exactly," Seth told her.

"Then we're going because?" she looked confused. Seth was so into it and now he was saying it was lame.

"Summer," Ryan answered for him.

"That and Lee needs exposure to the finer aspects of Newport culture," he added.

"It's a bunch of bored, rich kids drinking and dancing on the beach," Ryan summarized, hoping to convince Lee that she did not want to go.

"And you want to deny me that?" Lee stood up, "I need to shower and change. Toodles."

"Speaking of which, I need to change myself," Seth slapped Ryan on the shoulder, "See you later buddy."

"It's nice to see that you put some effort into getting ready for this," Seth joked as Ryan joined him and Lee in the kitchen wearing clothes virtually identical to what he had on earlier except that the pants were more casual.

"What did you expect?" Lee laughed. She had showered and left her hair down with its natural wave. She wore a green spaghetti strap tank with an almost too short jean skirt.

"You ready to go?" Ryan ignored their banter.

"Just need to check in with the parent units," Seth said, leading the way to Sandy's study. Lee grabbed her white zip up sweatshirt and slipped it on to make her clothing less revealing.

"Come in," Sandy called when Seth knocked, "Are you guys leaving for the cook out?"

"Yeah," Seth answered for the group, "We were going to find Mom so she could read us the riot act. Where is she?"

"She had to run out for something," he told them, "So I'll have to do. Here are the rules: No drinking, no fighting, and be home by eleven."

"Got it," Seth gave him the thumbs up, "See you later."

"Have fun!" Sandy called after them, hoping they would not get into too much trouble.

"Well this is it," Seth announced as he pulled the Range Rover up to Holly's beach house.

"It's nice," Lee shrugged off her white jacket earning her a glare from Ryan, "What?"

"Put it back on," he ordered.

"Whatever you say," she rolled her eyes but slipped it back onto her shoulders and got out of the car, "Can we go now?"

"Lead the way," Ryan told her.

"Will do," she grinned and walked up to the front porch where an open door let the music drift out. They entered the building and she took in the lavish scene, "This isn't that bad. Um, I'm going to go find Matt, okay?"

"And I'm going to go find Summer," Seth said walking off.

"Lee," Ryan grabbed her arm before she could leave, "Behave."

"Don't worry, I will," she grinned as she walked away, slipping off the sweatshirt and sneaking a margarita once she was out of her brother's line of vision. There was the whole 'no drinking' rule, but Lee knew she could handle one drink.

"Come on, Hol," Summer begged her friend who stood at the barbeque wearing an apron over a bikini. Summer was dressed in similar fashion wearing shorts and a bikini top, "I'll trade you two tickets to Jack Johnson, a massage at Burke-Williams and all the money I have on me," she dug into her purse, "Which is...eleven dollars."

"Mmm. Sorry, Summer," Holly considered flipping a burger, "I don't want to trade escorts."

"Hey, Summer. Holly," Seth walked over to them

"What did I say about talking to me?" Summer snapped.

"Okay. I just – God," Seth sighed, "I just wanted to make sure that we're still on for tomorrow night."

"I guess," she groaned.

"Could you even pretend to be a little bit stoked?" he said, tired of her attitude, but she just glared at him in response, "Fair enough," he turned to Holly, "Wow, you're a really good... barbeque-sionist."

"There you are!" Lee rushed over to Seth with a big smile. Unable to find Matt, she had seen his awkward conversation with Summer and decided it needed an intervention, "I've been looking all over for you."

"You have?" Seth asked in surprise.

"Uh, yeah, you owe me a dance," she grinned as she heard Kanye West's Gold Digger begin, "I love this song! Sum, would you hold my drink?"

"Uh," Summer began but Lee thrust the half empty margarita into her hand.

"Thanks, hun," Lee grabbed Seth's hand, "Let's go."

"Okay," he allowed her to drag her to where others were dancing on the deck.

Now I ain't sayin she a gold digger (When I'm in Need)
But she ain't messin wit no broke niggaz (She give me money)
Now I ain't sayin she a gold digger (When I'm in Need)
But she ain't messin wit no broke niggaz (Igotta leave)

"Uh, Lee," Seth said as they started dancing, "Why are we dancing?"

"Because I love this song," she smiled, "And it's oddly appropriate for this crowd."

"You've been drinking."

"Only a little. I'm not drunk," she swiveled her hips to the music, "And that's not why we're dancing."

"Then why?"

"Because it'll make Summer jealous," she leaned closer to his ear, "Casually look over my shoulder."

"What do you know?" Seth smiled when he saw Summer looking ticked off.

"See what I mean."

"You're good."

"I know," she did another suggestive move as she danced, stunning Seth for a moment. To Lee's surprise, he countered with some moves of his own that were actually not half bad, "Nice."

"I try."

Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)
Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)
Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)
Get down girl go head

"Hey!" Marissa came up behind Ryan who was warily watching Lee and Seth dance, "You came?"

"I said I would," he looked behind her for Luke.

"Luke's on the beach with some friends," she smiled, "So you don't have to worry about a fight."

"I wasn't…"

"Luke's difficult, I now," she shrugged, "He'll come around."

"Whatever," he snuck a peek at Lee out of the corner of his eye.

"She seems like she's having fun," Marissa smirked when she saw with whom Lee was dancing, "Same goes for Seth."

"Yeah."

"Who knew he could dance?" she laughed, "Well, I have to find Holly. I'll see you later."

"Bye," Ryan returned to watching his sister.

Get down girl go head get down
Get down girl go head get down
get down girl go head get down
She take my money
Let me here that back

"Thanks for the dance," Lee kissed Seth on the cheek, "It was fun."

"Where are you going?"

"Beach," she answered, "There are some guys down there and I want to find Matt."

"Good luck."

"You too," she smiled and headed out to the sand.

"Cohen!" Summer voice snapped from behind him.

"Summer?" he was shocked to see her there.

"You like to dance?" she asked as another song began, "Let's dance!"

"Uh, okay," Seth tried to hide the huge grin that was threatening to break through and enjoy the moment.

"Lee right?"

"Yeah," she looked over to the source of the voice. She had wandered the length of the beach near Holly's place in search of Matt and was now headed back to the house.

"It's Luke, remember?"

"Oh, yeah," she gave him a smile, "What's up?"

"Nothing really, I felt bad because I didn't get to officially welcome you to the O.C."

"Well, thanks," she tried to step past him but he blocked her way.

"I could welcome you now."

"What about your girlfriend?" Lee could smell the beer on his breath.

"What girlfriend?" he looked around the semi-deserted beach, "There's no one here."

"You're right. I'm leaving," she pushed past him, but he managed to grab her arm, "Hey!"

"What?" he let go of her wrist making it clear that he was not going to force her to do anything. He just wanted to persuade to do it, "You were dancing before."

"Because I wanted to."

"So you'd rather dance with that queer Cohen instead of me," he practically spat, "It can't be because you're morally above it or something, because you're from Chino and there's no we you've never…"

He was cut off by a fist connecting with his face.

"Go to hell! And start hoping that I don't tell my brother or worse, Marissa," she stalked off trying to control her anger. He was drunk and did not physically try anything, but Luke managed to prove that guys were the same in Chino and Newport. As she walked back to the house, she saw another couple kissing and was shocked to see Matt and his supposedly ex-girlfriend. Apparently, all men were jerks, she though before grabbing a beer and returning to the party.

"Oh my God!" Seth came up to Ryan's side in a rush, "You'll never guess what happened. I danced with Summer."

"Congrats, man," he offered his excited friend a smirking smile.

"I mean, danced, danced. Not that ballroom stuff," he grinned, "I love your sister!"

"Okay…why?"

"She danced with me, and once Summer saw my moves the green-eyed monster kicked in and she wanted to dance," he whistled softly, "And did we dance."

"That's great," he told him, "Now can we get out of here?"

"Yeah, Lee's out by the beach, let me go get her," he slapped Ryan's shoulder, "It was awesome, man, awesome!"

"Just go," Ryan shook his head as Seth ran off.

"What's he so excited about?" Marissa came up beside him.

"Summer danced with him."

"I see," she smiled, "So, are you glad you came?"

"Who'd want to miss this?" he looked over to the various party guests and noticed Luke enter from outside, "We're going to get going."

"Hey," she glanced over her shoulder at Luke, "We're not doing anything wrong."

"Lee, there you are!"

"Hey," she finished the last of her drink.

"I wanted to thank you. Summer and I danced and it was…" he trailed when she pushed past him to refill her cup from the keg, "Hot."

"Yeah?" she looked at him casually with the cup in her hand, not caring that he obviously disapproved.

"You sure you want to be drinking that?"

"Yeah," she took a sip.

"That was my way of telling you no," he took the cup from her hand.

"Hey!"

"We're family now, which means I'm big brother," he tossed the cup in the trash.

"I only had one cup before you showed up here," she rolled her eyes.

"And the margarita?"

"I drank half," she sighed, "And I can hold my alcohol."

"What happened to staying on my mom's good side?"

"She won't know if you don't tell her," she folded her arms, "Besides, I needed that drink, so it's worth the consequences."

"Why did you need that?" he suddenly became concerned, "Did something happen?"

"No," she spotted Matt returning from the beach alone, "I just needed a break."

"Right," Seth did not totally believe her.

"I'm fine."

"Yeah, well we're going to get going."

"All right," she smiled falsely, leading the way into the house.

"Well, now that you've moved in, I see you're making yourself right at home," Luke walked over to Marissa and Ryan angrily.

"Luke, come on," she placed her hand on his arm, "You said you were going to try,"

"I'm trying. I - I'm trying to understand why there's all this people here and you only want to talk to her."

"Hey," she removed her hand from his arm, "I wanted to talk to him."

"Look, babe, why don't you go talk to Summer, all right?" Luke was going to try, sort of, until Chino's sister clocked him, "She looks kind of lonely."

"Or you can," she gave him a disgusted look, "And I'll just stay and finish talking to Ryan."

"It's okay," Ryan spotted Seth and Lee walk over, "I'm just going to go."

"No," Marissa argued, "Stay."

"What are you doing?" Luke snapped, "Don't tell him he can stay!"

"Don't tell her what to do!" Ryan finally broke in with obvious disapproval for Luke's misogynistic comments.

"Thought you were leaving," Luke grabbed his arm roughly, "Why don't I just help you out?"

"I'm not going to fight you," he stared him down.

"Even if I do this?" he punched him in the stomach and Ryan fell to the ground.

"Luke!" Marissa rushed forward to crouch over Ryan, "Oh my God! Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Ryan forced a smile.

"God, Luke!" she stood up, "You are such an idiot!"

"Maris, wait," Luke said as she rushed off and he went to follow her.

"Wow, you just got your butt kicked. You didn't even fight back. Dude, you really are a Cohen," Seth knelt next to Ryan who glared back at him.

"Really nice, Seth," Lee bent down to help Ryan up.

"Yeah," Seth did the same, "Let's just get you home."

A/N: Let me know what you think…please review!

Hanselel – I'm glad you've started reading! I have fun writing the SS stuff…I find myself wanting to make their relationship progress at a much faster rate, but I have to keep it realistic…bleh…but things will improve!

Kursk – Thanks! I just could not include Anna in my version, she complicates my future plans for SS and I just can't have that. Kat's serving her purpose for cotillion and then I'm going to decide whether I keep her around as a friend for Lee or send her on her merry way.

Dogsbody – Thanks for all of your feedback not just on this chapter, but the others too! It really helps to know what the people reading this are thinking.

Slimkay – Thanks…I hope you liked it!

Leentje – Your wish is my command…hehehe!